Ricerc@Sapienza

Emotional and behavioral problems (such as depression or aggressive behavior) represent important risks especially during adolescence, because is a period with many developmental demands and changes (Steinberg & Morris, 2001; Zahn-Waxler et al., 2000). Research emphasizes the crucial role of negative-emotionality and self-regulation in the development of emotional and behavioral problems during adolescence (Eisenberg & Morris, 2002; Rothbart & Bates, 2006; Oldehinkel et al., 2007): different levels of negative-emotionality and self-regulation can be differently associated to anxiety/depression or aggressive behavior. Despite the importance to take into account the combined effects of negative-emotionality and self-regulation,
only few previous contributions focused specifically on this issue in adolescence (e.g., Laible et al., 2010).
The proposed study aims to examine: (a) temperamental profiles in a sample of preadolescents, based on their levels of negative-emotionality and selfregulation; and (b) relations among profiles, anxiety/depression, and aggressive-behavior. We propose to use a sample of adolescents belonging to a longitudinal study.
We expect to find four temperamental profiles: a Regulated profile (high self-regulation/low negative-emotionality); an Average profile; a Dysregulated profile (high negative-emotionality/low self-regulation); and a partially Dysregulated (i.e. with high negative-emotionality or with low self-regulation). We
expect also to confirm the following associations: we hypothesize that the most maladjusted profile can be the most anxious/depressed and aggressive; the partially maladjusted can be associated with high levels of a specific emotional or behavioral problems, whereas the adjusted profile could show lower levels of anxiety/depression and aggressive behavior.
Overall, this study will corroborate the importance of considering patterns of temperamental characteristics and their links to maladjustment in early adolescence.